Northern Thailand

Woman Diagnosed with Covid-19 Creates Panic in Northern Thailand

A woman who returned from Myanmar in Chiang Rai and somehow evaded covid-19 quarantine has created panic in Northern Thailand. Health authorities said they suspected the woman might have entered the country illegally.

Provincial Health officials are reporting that a total of 326 people came into contact with the woman from Chiang Mai diagnosed with Covid-19. According to officials had visited a karaoke bar; a shopping mall and movie theater and used public transport and Grab car services.

Chiang Mai governor Charoenrith Sa-nguansat ordered all affected venues to be disinfected, including the Central Festival Chiangmai shopping centre. It was closed at 4pm on Saturday for a “big cleaning”. It will reopen at the normal time on Sunday.

Central Pattana Plc, the mall operator, said those who had been in contact with the woman while she was in the mall had been contacted by authorities. The people contacted would proceed to a 14-day quarantine in line with protocols.

First local case of Covid-19

Officials from the Disease Control Department provided in-depth details about the woman’s movements at a briefing on Saturday as part of the contact-tracing exercise.

The 29-year-old woman is the only local case among five new coronavirus infections reported earlier in the day.

Dr Sopon Liamsirithavorn, director of the Communicable Diseases Division, said the woman is believed have become infected while in Myanmar. Drawing on the investigation by health workers.

He presented the following timeline:

From Oct 24 to Nov 23, the woman was in Myanmar. On Nov 23, she developed a fever, watery diarrhoea and lost her sense of smell.
On Nov 24, she still had a fever, and developed a cough and a headache. Around 5am on that day, she travelled from Myanmar to Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai by public van.
Around 11am on Nov 24, she left Chiang Rai for Chiang Mai by bus.
At 2.51pm the same day, the woman arrived at her condominium in a Grab car. That night, she used another Grab car to visit a karaoke bar in the Santitham area with two friends. They smoked a cigarette and shared it.
On Nov 25, she stayed overnight at a condominium with one of the friends who had returned from the entertainment venue around 2am. Two other friends who lived in the room opposite came to the room to drink alcohol.
About noon on Nov 25, the woman left the condominium in another Grab car. She arrived at her condo building at around 1pm.
Between 3.30pm and 8.30pm, she used another Grab car to visit a shopping mall and watched a movie there, had meals and went shopping. She wore a face mask most of the time. She later used another Grab car to return to her condominium.
On Nov 26, the woman took a Grab car to a private hospital in Chiang Mai for a medical check-up around 3.30pm after she lost her sense of smell. She had watery diarrhoea and a body temperature of 36.9C. She underwent a Covid-19 test.
Around 10pm, she was sent to Nakornping Hospital for another Covid-19 test. On Nov 27, the tests also turned out positive.

Covid-19 in Thailand

Of the 326 people who came in contact with the woman, 105 were deemed at high risk of infection and 149 low risk. Officials said 72 people were in close contact with her.

Thailand’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration has also yet to explain why the 29-year-old woman, who returned from Myanmar on Tuesday, had not been isolated upon arrival for 14 days as required.

Northern Thailand

Tubers on Pai River Draw Anger Over Inappropriate Behavior

The Governor of Mae Hong Son province in northern Thailand has sought stricter rules for tourist tubing on the Pai River, following allegations of tourists sneaking into resort areas to engage in sexual activities, which prompted police reports and considerable criticism online.

After a resort owner in Pai protested about the existing situation of tubing activities along the Pai River, the Governor became aware of the matter. According to the accusations, wine and beer are discreetly offered to tourists while disguised in plastic water bottles to prevent detection.

After their tubing adventures, these tourists, both men and women, would walk around Pai town in their swimsuits. Men often wear one pair of swim briefs, but most women wear two-piece swimsuits or bikinis.

This behavior was considered derogatory to local culture. Recently, there were instances of tourists slipping into resort areas to engage in sexual activities, which prompted police investigations and considerable online criticism.

Following the complaint, provincial governor Chuchip Pongchai requested a meeting of the police and allied authorities on July 16 to explore further tourism restrictions.

The province already restricts the selling of alcohol to tourists who go tubing, which involves floating down a river on inner tubes made of rubber tires. Most people observe the guidelines, but others, including some store owners, break them by concealing the alcohol by pouring it in water bottles.

According to TNA, Pai is one of Northern Thailand’s most popular tourist spots, attracting 40,000 visitors each year and strengthening Thailand’s economy.

Tubing in the Pai River has become a favorite activity among foreigners. However, the governor stated that the attitude of some tourists has jeopardised the province’s image.

Tourists Tubing on Pai River

Girl 16 Arrested in Thailand for Defaming Royalty on Facebook

Girl 16 Arrested in Thailand for Defaming Royalty on Facebook

Northern Thailand

Pregnant Woman Goes Psycho Stabs Family Members in Phayao

Police in northern Thailand’s Phayao province have arrested a 40-year-old pregnant mother for attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to create bodily harm.

Phayao Police report they were called after a woman and her daughter had been stabbed and beaten by a family member to a house number 206, Soi 7, Village No. 3, Ban San Nong Niao Subdistrict. Tom, Mueang District.

When officers arrived they found Ms. Chayada Chaiyawan, age 45, and her daughter Ms. Patida Chaiyawan, age 19, with injuries to their bodies and heads. Blood was spread all over the bedroom, and they found Mrs. Sakulkarn, aged 40 years, who was a relative living next door, tied up.

The police then transported all of them to Phayao Hospital for treatment. Ms. Chayada was stabbed thirteen times and her daughter twice. Both also sustained head injuries, according to Phayao police.

Ms. Chayada was stabbed thirteen times and her daughter twice

Ms. Chayada told police the incident occurred around 4:00 a.m. She was sleeping in the room with her young son, when she heard someone opened the bedroom door. She said at that time it was still dark and all she saw a shadow of a person lifting what she though was a hammer.

She said the got up and fought until she fell after being hit in the head and stabbed with a knife, in fear for her life she screamed for her daughter to come and help. When the daughter entered the room the assailant proceeded to hit her in the head and stabbed her also.

The assailant ran out of the room and was immediately restrained by a neighbour who heard the screaming and ran into the house to help. Mrs. Sakulkarn who was 7 months pregnant was tied up and police and rescue workers were called to the scene. The neighbour told police that all the time they were waiting for the police.

Police said Mrs. Sakulkarn is being held in Hospital and is under psychiatric care. Ms. Chayada and her daughter were treated for their injuries and sent home.

According to Thai Media, Police said charges of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to create bodily harm will be filed against Mrs. Sakulkarn after she is released from Hospital.

Phayao Gets City-Class Air Purification Tower for Air Pollution

Phayao Gets City-Class Air Purification Tower for Air Pollution

Northern Thailand

Train Crashes into Pickup Killing 5 in Phitchit Province

Five people were killed and two others badly injured when a pickup truck was hit by a north-bound train at an unguarded railway crossing in Phitchit province on Monday evening.

Phitchit police reported the horrific crash occurred around 6 pm at Moo 1 village in tambon Pak Thang of Muang district of Phitchit.

Police said the 201 passenger train from Bangkok to Phitsanulok approached the crossing, which was unguarded and had no safety barriers.

A four-door pickup truck plates drove across the tracks and into the path of oncoming the train which was was unable to stop or slowdown in time to avoid hitting the pickup truck.

The force of the crash drove the pickup about 30 metres down the railway crossing and off to the side. All passengers on the pickup were thrown from the vehicle.

Three women passengers died immediately and two more passengers died later at Phichit Hospital. Two others including the driver of the pickup were seriously injured.

Police investigators said truck driver Pratya Khongthat, 40, was taking relatives, including a 14-yea-old girl, to a funeral at Wat Ratchangkhwan in tambon Pak Thang, approximately one kilometer from the accident scene.